Muffs Ado About Nothing

A pair of remarkable efforts - coupled with terrific contributions across the team - heralded the complete performance Haddington have been looking for in 2021. There were still shakes with the bat, but Dave Arbuthnott’s powerful 62* brought the side home after Fergus Syme’s 7-26 was the main cause of DAFs losing 7 for 31 in 8 overs to end their innings. Some brilliant catching, as well as ground fielding hustle from Benedict Elliot & Andy Bell, rounded out the day.

Haddington vs Murrayfield DAFs 2nd XI 10th July 2021

East Lothian’s cricketers continued to prove more than a match for their capital counterparts, as Haddington CC squeaked past Murrayfield DAFs 2nd XI in a thrilling match at Neilson Park on Saturday, in the battle for third place in ESCA Division 3. With DAFs’ 1st XI match vs Penicuik called off, the visitors were able to call on some players with Division 1 experience this season, bringing a strong side to the Hidden Toun. Scott Logan came out on top with the coin toss once again, and chose to bowl, as is tradition. Damp and humid conditions throughout the week meant a soft but true surface, and Timmy Hancox toiled without reward in another fiery new ball spell. At the other end Fergus Syme - in the hunt for leading wicket take in the league - caused Will Hodgson plenty of problems, before the left hander eventually spooned one back for a simple caught and bowled. The introduction of Rob Hiley - back to bowling following an ankle niggle - brought about Akerkar’s demise. A short ball kept hideously low, for an lbw that both sides would rather not see again. Raman & Rangaswamy set about recovery from 21-2, and were building a solid platform, only for cramp in the heat to affect Raman’s judgement. Increasingly looking for the big shot, he was bowled by Tim Blades for 21. Ketinedi joined the tidy & organised Rangaswamy, as the pair built a match defining partnership of 63. Logan’s judicious use of Cruickshank’s spin and bowling changes kept the run rate below 4, and Ketinedi eventually holed out to Blades at long-on for 22, though perhaps having soaked up a few more deliveries than had been intended.

At 115-4 with the best part of 9 overs to go and a set batsman, DAFs were poised for 160-170. Fergus Syme, however, had other ideas. The chaos started when Vivek Tyagi - one of the division’s leading run scorers, held back curiously to number 6 - drove fiercely through extra cover. An otherwise certain boundary was intercepted one handed by a flying Hancox from mid-off, sending the Haddington fielders into rapture. Rangaswamy then slapped a simple catch to Hancox the same over, perhaps his only misjudgement in a calculating 46. From there the collapse continued, Rathod skewing to point as Syme continued to let fly with great pace and accuracy from the River Tyne End, growing into his role as death bowler. Adi Choudhury offered little, feathering behind to Borrowman, and Pujari was adjudged plumb LBW two balls later. Brad Peters threatened to take the score to 150 with a thunderous six, but poor running (which had plagued the DAFs innings throughout) left him starved of the strike. He was bowled by a searing Syme yorker, last man out for 12, and 146 the summary of proceedings. 24 extras a little high, though some byes can be forgiven of Borrowman who kept brilliantly up to the stumps even to the quick bowlers. 7-26 Fergus Syme’s final analysis, taking him to 20 league wickets after just 8 games, including that of his rival Tyagi. This was his fourth five wicket haul of 2021 (including two in early season friendlies) and Haddington’s best league figures since May 2008. 

In reply, Ash Kumar opened the batting with Cruickshank in the absence of Cardwell-Moore. The Haddington innings started well with some comfortable nurdles, before Peters finally found his length to thunder one through Cruickshank’s defence for the first wicket; certainly one of the balls of the day. Kumar stood strong with Borrowman, and wayward full tosses & leg side balls were helped for 2s and 4s, with Haddington reaching 42-1 after 11 overs. Kumar attempted one too many and was caught at fine leg hooking, and though 43-2 was a good platform, things took a sour turn for the home side. With persistent drizzle and poor light, captain Mitchell tossed the ball up above the eyeline and through Hiley’s defences. Tyagi switched ends after struggling with his footing & footwear, and straightened one past PB’s outside edge as successive maiden overs stalled progress. 50-4, and the home side nerves were going. 

Dave Arbuthnott, hero against Holy Cross in May, was solid in defence and struck Mitchell for a huge 6 to keep the score moving, though survived a couple of close LBW appeals on the sweep. Blades succumbed to a miscued pull from a dreadful drag down by Nids Pujari as DAFs were forced into the fifth and sixth bowlers, and Logan was caught cover on the drive by Rangaswamy’s stunning grab (as is tradition for the captain). 76-6, and hopes fading, last recognised batsman Hancox joined Buff Dave in the middle in the 26th over. The pair steadied the ship, then got the lucky break they needed when Hancox’s sharp single call caught Arbuthnott napping, and the shy at the stumps missed. A skier in the deep was put down also, and may well have been the difference in the final result, with Haddington barely missing a chance in the field. The tide turned not just in the puddle at fine leg, but in the match too when 13 was taken from an over off Pujari’s questionable seamers, and 11 from the next by Rathod. A remarkable partnership of 54 was ended when the returning Choudhury castled Hancox for an invaluable 14, and Mitchell had Andy Bell caught to take the score to 133-8. Young Syme was not to have his day taken from him, and masterfully blocked out an end, with Arbuthnott pumping the necessary boundaries on his way to a glorious 62 not out, and taking Haddington home with two overs - and just two wickets - to spare. Not all chest and pipes, but some real ticker on show throughout his innings too. The win secured third place for The Goats, who travel to unbeaten Hawick & Wilton next.